Court appearance for coach accused of sex abuse of special-needs girl

BAYTOWN, Texas - A 69-year-old man who claimed to be an assistant softball coach and is accused of sexually assaulting a special-needs girl, appeared before a judge Thursday morning.

Warren Doyle is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He was arrested Tuesday night during a traffic violation and is currently in jail on $60,000 total bond.

Police say the 12-year-old girl's parents told them their daughter had been sexually assaulted multiple times by Doyle. The parents claimed the assaults occurred earlier this month at a softball tournament in Burleson, Texas, and again when the child returned to Baytown.

"There are three teams in this league and there was 10-12 kids on the teams, so he had close contact with all the kids," said Edgar Elizondo, with the Baytown Police Department. "The kids would alternate on different teams."

The alleged victim has been playing softball on the special-needs team for four years. Police say he offered to give the victim a ride to practice and that's when the alleged assault happened.

Investigators say they discovered that Doyle's 17-year-old grandson, also a special-needs child, played on the same team.

"According to the manager, he was not a coach or assistant coach, but helped out the team. He portrayed himself as an assistant coach to us, the parents and the child, and everyone on the team also; but he was not an assistant coach," said Elizondo.

Doyle has helped out with the team for about two years, police said.

His family told Local 2 the accusations against him are shocking and embarrassing.

"Speaking out about it is horrible. I don't even know what to say about it," said Doyle's grandson, Edwin Cedillo.

Baytown police are asking parents whose children have been in close contact with Doyle to talk with their children. If parents feel their child has been victimized, please contact Detective Gallop at 281-420-6640.

Anyone with information on this or any other crime is asked to call the Baytown Police Department at 281-422-8371. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 281-427-TIPS; submit anonymous tips online at the Baytown Police Department website, or text keyword BAYTOWN plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 cash for information that leads to an arrest and you will remain anonymous.

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